Collapse in commodities ends BHP’s record run August 12, 2009 BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner, yesterday reported a 30 per cent slide in annual profit excluding writedowns, its first fall in seven years, pummelled by a slump in metals prices and demand. It said there were emerging signs of demand improving in North America, Europe and Japan, but said it was too early to [...]
FT buys digital pension service MandateWire August 12, 2009 THE Financial Times has bought MandateWire, a London-based provider of information on European pension mandates for an undisclosed sum. The digital, subscription-based service analyses 2,000 EU pension funds and sends out details to analysts at fund management groups. An FT spokesman said the deal “further consolidates the FT’s global position with fund management groups, following [...]
WILL FEWER PEOPLE BE TAKING A WINTER BREAK IN THE RECESSION? August 12, 2009 SAM HART CHARLES STANLEYWinter 2009/10 is expected to be the toughest period in the current downturn, as winter holidays tend to be more discretionary than summer holidays. Bookings for winter appear to have got off to a slow start, but it remains early in the booking cycle and trading has strengthened in the last four [...]
Mitie acquires UK Dalkia arm August 12, 2009 UK maintenance firm Mitie said it had acquired the British arm of Dalkia, the outsourcing group owned by France’s EDF and Veolia for £130m and had raised £43m through a share placing. Mitie, which cleans the Tower of London, said it had acquired Dalkia Technical Facilities Management to boost the reach and depth of its [...]
Northgate wins placing support August 12, 2009 Northgate, the van hire company, yesterday said that 97.5 per cent of shareholders had backed its rights issue. The group wants to raise around £115m from a placing and rights issue to shelter it from the downturn, which has hit the value of its vehicles.
Norcros sees sales slightly down August 12, 2009 Shower and tile maker Norcros yesterday reported sales down 3.7 per cent at constant currency levels in the 18 weeks to 2 August. The company said in a trading update that its UK businesses had continued to perform well, but warned that its South African operations had been hit by falling demand.
AIG offloads pair of businesses August 12, 2009 US insurer giant AIG said yesterday that it is to sell its Hong Kong finance business to China Construction Bank Asia for $70m in cash and $557m in debt. The group is also selling its Indian IT unit to MphasiS for an undisclosed sum.
FSA AND TORIES AT WAR OVER BONUSES August 12, 2009 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority (FSA) and the Tories were at loggerheads last night over the regulator’s plans to reform bank bonuses. The FSA, which published its final remuneration code yesterday, faced claims that it had watered down its proposals in the face of pressure from City bankers. But the City watchdog hit back, saying it [...]
SWISS AND US REACH DEAL IN UBS TAX EVASION PROBE August 12, 2009 THE SWISS and US governments have reached a preliminary agreement in the long-running dispute about UBS clients suspected of tax evasion. US Justice Department attorney Stuart Gibson said the two sides had “initialled” a settlement, avoiding a potentially long and costly court case. The details of the deal were not released, although it is thought [...]
On-site visits form part of FSA strategy August 12, 2009 STUNG by criticism that it is being soft on City banks, the Financial Services Authority said yesterday it would shortly be starting on-site visits to look at individual contracts of City bankers. The visits are designed to ensure banks are not taking excessive risks when they draw up their bonuses policy. “We’ve got the toughest [...]